FORT MYERS, FLA. – Twins manager Paul Molitor had many of his regulars make the short trip to jetBlue Park on Wednesday, and the experienced lineup didn't waste time taking it to Red Sox pitching.
Twins jump on Red Sox early in 8-1 victory; Jake Odorizzi pitches into fourth inning
March 8, 2018 at 6:06AM
The Twins scored four first-inning runs on the way to an 8-1 victory over Boston. Eduardo Escobar and Ryan LaMarre hit home runs. Robbie Grossman and Max Kepler each went 2-for-3, and Logan Morrison was 2-for-2 before leaving the game after the second inning because of right gluteus tightness. He's considered day to day.
Seven Twins batted in the first inning to knock out Boston righthander Chandler Shepherd. Morrison, Jorge Polanco and Kepler hit back-to-back-to-back singles and Byron Buxton added a sacrifice fly as the Twins took a 4-0 lead. Miguel Sano, at the end of a long at-bat, hit a ground-rule double to right in the second inning that allowed Grossman to score and put the Twins ahead 5-0.
Boston scored a run in the fourth, but Escobar, pinch hitting for Polanco in the sixth, launched a two-run homer to right to put the Twins ahead 7-1.
The Twins hope it was a glimpse of what the offense can do during the regular season.
"With justification that we do," Molitor said. "It's one that we saw make a lot of strides last year."
Twins righthander Jake Odorizzi gave up one run over 3⅓ innings on three hits and a walk, lowering his spring training ERA to 1.42.
Armando Alvarez played first base and third base in 16 games for Oakland. He ranged further in the minor leagues, where he hit .315 in Class AAA last season.
